Player Lowdown

Strengths Weaknesses

STRENGTHS: Sports a compact, well-developed frame and looks the part of an NFL cornerback, demonstrating the quickness, fluidity and competitiveness in run support scouts are looking for. Asked to handle a variety of coverage responsibilities in OSU's scheme, including press-man, off-man and zone principles. Shows a quick, low backpedal to give ground quickly and can break downhill in a flash to close. Good straight-line speed to handle vertical routes. Tracks the ball well, showing very good leaping ability, excellent timing and the hand-eye coordination to snatch passes at their highest point. Good awareness to drop his deep responsibilities and come up in run support or to make the open-field tackle on underneath receivers. Aggressively fights through receiver blocks and throws his body into the path of would-be blockers to funnel running backs back inside, rather than allowing them the corner. Voted a team captain. Good athlete. Also participated on Oregon State's track team, running the 60 meters. WEAKNESSES: Shorter than scouts would prefer. Could be viewed by some as a jack-of-all trades cornerback who can play all coverage principles well enough but not so brilliantly as to star in a man-heavy or zone-dominant scheme. Opens his hips quicker than some would like, resorting to a sidestep shuffle, at times, rather than a true backpedal. Can get a little grabby (especially on double-moves), subtly shoving receivers as they turn to hamper their progress. Missed the 2013 spring following offseason knee surgery. COMPARES TO: Chris Owens, ex-Miami Dolphins - Owens could play the "underrated" card hailing from San Jose State but while undersized, his physical, determined style and good overall athleticism helped him emerge as a starter in Atlanta before getting injured and subsequently waived by Miami last season. Reynolds is similarly overlooked playing out west but don't be surprised when he too emerges as a mid-round steal. --Rob Rang (2/3/14)

Player Overview

A former high school wrestler, it's no surprise that one of Reynolds' strengths is his reputation for being willing to stick his nose into the action in run defense.A quarterback and cornerback in high school who was a three-time all-city player out of Pacoima, Calif., Reynolds was recruited as a cornerback and redshirted in 2009. He played in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, serving as one of the team's top gunners on the coverage units. He entered the starting secondary in 2011, starting all 12 games after Brandon Hardin suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery. Reynolds took advantage of the opportunity, finishing with 68 tackles and eight passes broken up.Reynolds earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 as a junior, posting 16 passes defensed, including five in one half against Arizona. He also had five interceptions and was second on the team with 75 tackles.After being limited during spring practice in 2013 by a knee injury, Reynolds returned healthy in the fall and went on to play in all 13 games. He finished with 61 tackles, 3.5 for loss, a sack and a career-high six interceptions. He broke up four passes and had 10 passes defensed to go along with a pair of forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.Reynolds was voted Second Team All-Pac-12 by the league's coaches.

04/21/2014 - 2014 NFL Draft Defensive Backs: Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State, 5-10, 189, 4.51, 3-4...This former star quarterback at San Fernando High School (Pacoima, Calif.) had to beg to play cornerback and they are thankful at Oregon State, where he played 50 games, starting his final 38 at right corner. Tough, three-time city prep wrestling champ with excellent coverage techniques and great character as leader on the field and in community. Last year he overcame a knee injury to collect 61 tackles, six interceptions and two fumbles returned for a score in one game. Frankly: Forget his height, or lack thereof, just put him on the field and watch him give a clinic in how this position is supposed to be played. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange